Sign.



CLH. KETTLES.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1909.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

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Application filed May 17, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES II. KETTLES, citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signs and has especial reference to devices of this class that are arranged to support interchangeable character bearing plates, so that the displayed matter may be varied from time to time as desired.

The more important features of the improvements which constitute the subject matter of this application are:to furnish a device of the character stated that will be particularly applicable to the display of advertising matter in special localities, such as windows or show cases; to provide an appliance so designed and constructed that the display members may be readily turned upon v centers in order that the sides of the plates or cards upon which the letters or characters are printed, may be made to face in different directions, and to arrange convenient means for locking the said members when adjusted.

Further objects of the invention refer to the manner of constructing the letter holding members, which are formed in sections adapted to telescope, so that the length of the displayed line may be varied to suit the number of words or letters which it is desired to show at one time; to the means employed to attach the card holders to the supporting member which allows the holders to be readily assembled or removed, an incidental advantage of this arrangement being that it permits of the use of as few or many display arms as may be required to complete the list or sentences which it is desired to exhibit. v

It is also an object of this invention to facilitate the transmission of light through the letter bearing plates or cards so that the exhibited matter may be easily read at night, the source of illumination being ordinary lamps or gas lights arranged behind the sign.

I accomplish the above and other results of minor importance by means of the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, the constructive details being clearly shown in the following views:-

Figure l is a side elevation of my im- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

serial No. 496,455.

proved adjustable sign; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; F ig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the arm-supporting member, with two arms attached at different angles; Fig. 4L is an end elevation, enlarged, of one of the arms, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the details of the drawing, the numeral 6 indicates a flat bar or strip, secured in a vertical position to any available support, such as a casing or wall 7, in any convenient manner. The face of this supporting strip is furnished with a series of angular hooks or pintles 8, preferably arranged in a median row and symmetrically spaced as shown. Upon each of said hooks or pintles is removably supported a display arm 9, composed of two sections 10, 11, which are adapted to slide upon each other in the manner to be described. The inner section 10 is preferably formed of a sheet metal plate or strip 12, having its side edges bent at right angles toward the same side, and the margins again bent to lie parallel with the main body of the plate, the flanges 14 thus turned forming grooves or slideways 15. One end margin 16 is turned at a right angle with the plate, the other end being left open, for the introduction of rectangular plates or cards 17, upon which are printed, or otherwise impress-ed, letters or figures suited to the purpose in view. The upturned flange 16 is furnished with eyes 18 adapted to be placed over the pintles 8 in the manner shown, the eyes and pintle constituting a hinge upon which the arm 9 is free to swing in either direction. l/Vhen the arm is extending at right angles with the front face of the supporting strip 6, it is secured in this position by means of pins 19 which enter suitable holes 20 in the said strip, the said holes being arranged so that the pins will engage opposite sides of the arm, in the manner shown. Ihen the arm is swung so as to lie parallel with the face of the said support 6, only one pin is needed to prevent the arm from turning upon its hinge. In Figs. l and 3 such a relation of the parts is indicated at the pin 19 in each instance being in engagement with the rear or inner end 16 of the arm. The said section 1l of each arrn 9, is formed in the same manner as the hereinbefore described inner section 10, with the exception that both ends are left open, and the member is adapted to telescope over the said section 10 in the manner clearly shown in the drawing.

The backs of the arm 9, constituted by the plates 12 are provided with openings 21, which may be utilized for the transmission of light through the letter cards 17, the latter, of course, being made of some translucent material suited to the purpose.

The manner of using my improved sign will be readily understood. The supporting strip 6, provided with the holes 20 and the spaced pntles 8, is first secured in a vertical position to a convenient support. The arms 9 may then be readily suspended thereon by placing the eyes 18 over the pintles. .The outer ends of the inner sections 10 and both ends of the outer sections 11, being open, the letter-bearing cards 17 are placed in the grooves or slideways 15, the outer sections 11 being slid upon the inner sections until the total length of the display arm corresponds with the number of cards required to make up that particular line of the sign.

The ieXibility of the apparatus permitting the exhibition of words and sentences varying in length, and the opportunity to present the reading matter, or a certain portion thereof, in different positions, so that it can be seen from various points, and the facility with which the number of arms made use of at one time can be increased or dminished, combine to produce a device of special utility in the particular line to which it is adapted.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In a sign, a hinged member and a member slidably adjustable on the hinged member, both of said members having slideways adapted to receive display cards, and display cards slidably and removably arranged in said slideways.

2. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a suitable support, grooved arms hinged on said support, means for adjusting said arms longitudinally, and means for locking the arms against their hinge movement, said locking means consisting of removable pins inserted in said support and adapted to engage said arms.

3. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a suitable support, of a plurality of grooved arms detachably hinged on said support, said arms formed of sections adapted to telesco e, each section being open upon one side anc having light transmitting apertures in the opposite side, and means for locking the arms in various positions when turned upon their hinges.

1. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a suitable support, of a plurality of grooved arms detachably hinged on said support, said arms being composed of telescoping sections, each section constructed of a single plate having its side margins turned to form grooves adapted to receive suitable display cards, and means for locking the arms relatively to the said support.

In testimony whereof I aCiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. KETTLES.

Vitnesses F. G. MYERS, GEO. B. BROWN. 

